Why are laptops becoming more common than desktops?

contingencyplan

Lately it's become increasingly common for laptops to outsell desktops in electronics and computer stores. I'm curious as to why most people would choose a laptop over a desktop given the following:

1. Most people do not need the portability of a laptop.

2. Laptops are not as powerful despite having the same stats on paper.

3. Laptops often cannot be repaired when they fail and must be replaced entirely.

4. Laptops are prone to overheating.

5. Laptops are very limited in their upgradeability.

Do you use a desktop or a laptop? And if so, why?

nwhitley

Laptop b/c my employer provides it free of charge. They maintain virus protection, repair when needed, and upgrade every other year. What's not to love about that deal??

XtyAnn17

My guess, laziness


And let me add, I have a desktop...but I know my mom has a laptop for the sole reason of convenience of not having to get up off her *kitten*

contingencyplan

Laptop b/c my employer provides it free of charge. They maintain virus protection, repair when needed, and upgrade every other year. What's not to love about that deal??

In cases like yours its understood

stepherzzzzz

Laptop. Desktops require a desk. I don't have room for a desk. Plus I go back and forth between my place and my parents' place a lot and I like to take my laptop with me.

ket_the_jet

I have a desktop at home. If I wanted more portability, I'd get a tablet. Let's face it, nothing I do on-the-go could not be done on a tablet.

That said, my company has provided me with a laptop. Presumably it is because I'm supposed to travel more than I actually do. They don't confirm if I check in at the hotels.
-wtk

ElizabethRoad

Many people in my company work from home or on the road part of the time, so for us it makes sense to have laptops.

Personally, I have one of each. My laptop is pretty old, but has never needed repairs, doesn't overheat, and is powerful enough for anything I need to do, except gaming. And I do want the portability - not every day, but occasionally.

Magenta15

Laptop all the way... unless I get more into photography and thus editing and would want a nice desktop with HUGE monitor... for better editing of course lol... as this is not the case. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my lap top (and now my iPad also incidentally my laptop gets a bit of a break now lol)... I am on laptop number 3 and haven't had a desktop well... ever, of my own actually lol but when I lived with my ex he had one, I hated be confined to one room and chair... drove me stir crazy

Mine comes to work some days, or I can do my work or time wasting in the comfort of any room in my house without being confined to one said desk and miserably uncomfortable chair... especially after sitting at a desk all day I don't want to do it again at home should i need to do more work, or homework etc...

myfitnessnmhoy

I use a desktop because I assemble my own machines, but most people I know have laptops.

1. Many people discover that while they don't use the portability of a laptop every day, it occasionally comes in handy.

2. Most people don't need something as powerful as they have - let's face it, any modern computer is going to run any modern software (other than games) just fine.

3. Most people cannot repair computers. Heck, I get a lot of informal repair requests from friends, family, and co-workers because "the machine got slow". Well, yeah, those 1500 viruses you had on it might have had something to do with it - that pop-up ad you clicked on that said "you had a virus"? That was a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In a few cases, I've had people offer to "pay for the parts" and start trying to throw money at me because they thought I added hardware - nope, installed an ran a free anti-virus package, the 6-pack of beer we originally agreed to is dandy, thanks, but I'll take a second six-banger if you insist, thanks.

4. Cheap crappy laptops are more prone to overheating. But so are cheap crappy desktops. On the other hand, laptops have a built-in battery backup system and tend to use less electricity and have better power management than a desktop.

5. See point 3. For a lot of people, "upgrade" means "go to Best Buy, pick out something shiny, pay to have someone move documents to new machine". The smarter folks use something like Carbonite so they can just restore their data to the new machine.

I'm finding myself increasingly using my smartphone and I'll probably drop some bucks on an Android tablet soon.

Octopies

I have a laptop. I'm a student and some classes require you bring one if you have one. Its easy to just pick it up and take it anywhere on campus to do homework.
I know how to repair a laptop if it fails. Fixing computers was actually my job.
(provided you can actually fix what happened to it, with a lot of physically broken things you're *kitten* out of luck because laptop components tend to be soldered in rather than field replaceable like a desktop)

lukeout007

Lately it's become increasingly common for laptops to outsell desktops in electronics and computer stores. I'm curious as to why most people would choose a laptop over a desktop given the following:

1. Most people do not need the portability of a laptop.

2. Laptops are not as powerful despite having the same stats on paper.

3. Laptops often cannot be repaired when they fail and must be replaced entirely.

4. Laptops are prone to overheating.

5. Laptops are very limited in their upgradeability.

Do you use a desktop or a laptop? And if so, why?

1) Space saving...doesn't always have anything to do with portability.

2) My laptop has the EXACT same specs my desktop that I replaced did. Intel Core i3 processor, 6gb ram, 750gb hard drive.

3) What are you talking about? Are you talking about home repair? Because I've repaired many laptops myself. You can also send them in if they are under warranty.

4) Never had a laptop overheat.

5) It's not difficult to upgrade hard drive, ram, or software on a laptop. The video card and processor are the only things that I could see being difficult...but most likely if those things are important you'd be wanting to just buy something new anyway.

daffodilsoup

I can't lay under my covers with a desktop

Thaelvyn

I have 2 desktops self built, 3 laptops and one iPad (let's not start to include all the game consoles as well, I own over 20 of those).

The desktops are my gaming stations, whilst the laptops are usually more work related or back-up for gaming/used to google stuff when in full screen on the desktops (although both desktops have dual screens).

But in short: Desktop: personal, Laptop: Professional. Tablet: bit of both but mainly personal.

jcmartin0313

It is hard to hole the laptop while you...

runnercheryl

I use a laptop because I want to be able to use my computer in various places. I carry it to see clients, I take it up to my office, I go downstairs and relax in the lounge, I use it whilst lying on a hammock in my garden, I relax on the bed with it...

I'm aiming to get a desktop PC late this year or early next year, so I've got something more powerful to meet the new needs of my business, but I'll still require the flexibility of a laptop.

mfanyafujo

I have a laptop. I like the portability of it (got it in college, and was always taking it to class, to friends' houses, to coffee shops, etc). My laptop could always handle my engineering programs, and if I ever needed something more powerful, it would probably be work-related and therefore work-provided.

Also, now I don't have electricity, so a laptop is kind of required.

digitalbill

I have a laptop and a desktop.
I have found myself using the laptop more and more as I can bring it into the kitchen instead of printing off recepies I am using or I can bring it outside while chilling with my wife and surfing Kayaks together.
The desktop has become a music and movie server more then anything else and now that I can keep the desktop on the floor and out of the way (I use the Television as a monitor when needed), I have gotten rid of that big stupid computer desk.
It has nothing to do with being lazy.
Also, I have NEVER had a laptop overheat on me.
Not my old Toshiba, not my old Dell (that I still do use), and not my current Toshiba.
As someone else pointed out, these laptops are plenty powerful enough to do what I need to do with the exception of hardcore gaming but, at my age, I am better off outside anyway then planting my fat self in front of a computer to play games.

ErinBeth7

I have a desktop at home because I do a lot of freelance graphic design and I NEED it to be productive without cussing at my laptop and throwing it across the room. Not to mention its a brand new iMac and runs so well!!! I have an iPad (from work) that I use when I'm not doing work. So really, my macbook never gets used anymore. Not to mention its slow and about ready to give out.

Pandorian

Desktop for power use, but laptop is something i can take with me to a clients home when I'm trouble-shooting their computer if I need to download something i can always do it on my computer if there's isn't working for it. Or just to go between home and wherever I'm heading... camp, remote work-site etc, the laptop just makes sense and since I only use the laptop for simple browsing it doesn't need to have screaming performance.
I do have 4 laptops sitting around from the clients who decide they're going to upgrade anyway I'll pull parts from them for other computers I'll be working on.

Veganniee

Desktop. It's a gaming pc. Not found a laptop that could compete.

ashbee03

i have a desktop.
until i go to school, or NEED a laptop. a desktop is just fine for me.
desktop has everything.
2 TB hard drive, nice huge screen, lots of RAM.
perfect for gaming.

but i do see that laptops are convenient.
can take em anywhere.
but i don't go anywhere lol.

_the_feniks_

Laptop PC: $513
Internet porn: free
Ability to prove old wives' tales false from the comfort of your own bed: priceless.

CDMAGS

Laptop PC: $513
Internet porn: free
Ability to prove old wives' tales false from the comfort of your own bed: priceless.

LOL

kittyhasclaws

I have a laptop because I DO need the portability of it. I'm a full time student and I often have to find a quiet room to hide out in to do homework. I don't have room in my bedroom to keep a desktop computer, but I can sit on my bed with books all around me and my laptop in front of me.

Josie_lifting_cats

Laptops. Despite the post, I do need them - I'm self employed and this sucker goes everywhere with me. Also, sometimes I work from the couch, from my bed, from my office, from my car.... I'm all over the place. Although my laptop is less mobile now that I bought an iPad. If I'm just on the road checking properties, etc., I take the Ipad and my android phone and I can do nearly anything I could possibly need to do.

I do lust after the touch screen all in one systems, though. As my kids get a bit older I think that is what I would add as a "household" system so they can do their school work. Because I don't want them hauling a laptop off in their room and ignoring the family every day!

WILSONBA

i have a laptop because i take it with me to other places. if i could afford both i would but i don't have the room or the funds. besides that i'm in the military so when i move it'll be easier to pack than a giant computer

AJ_Pete

I enjoy laying in my bed to look at the naughty stuff. Sitting in an overstuffed leather computer chair just doesn't do it for me like I thought it would.

vim_n_vigor

I have a desktop at home that is mine, a laptop and tablet provided by work, and a smart phone. I like each of them for different things.

onirama

Its cause when you get tired you can just bring it in the bed and watch/whatever you do on the internet ,and be more relaxed,or bring it outside,in the kitchen etc.
Its more about portability around the house rather than other places

giggitygoo

I have both. I find myself using the laptop more often though, and it's sufficiently powerful for what I do (photo editing, motion graphics, various graphics software.)

The average user really doesn't need a supercomputer to write emails, pay bills and surf the web. An attractive laptop is way more than sufficient.

That said my other comp is a BEAST, 12 core (24 proc), monster. That's a workstation though and if you're not producing motion graphics.....it's ridiculous to pay for something you wont use.

twistygirl

Thank you for this post. My daughter has just went through 4 laptops in less than 6 years she just broke the last one a month ago. Hers stayed on almost 24hrs a day. She has had apple, sony, HP, Gateway all of them broke. I been telling her to get a desk top. For the same reasons you listed maybe her dumb azz will read what you wrote and stop telling me to mind my own business when she is sitting her butt at my desktop. :noway: